Mexico on Monday raised its confirmed swine flu toll to 26 deaths and 701 infected patients, according to Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova.

The previous toll, given late Sunday, was 22 dead and 568 infected.

Lab tests on a backlog of suspect cases showed "727 positive — 701 are alive and 26 dead," Cordova told a news conference.

Cordova and President Felipe Calderon said Sunday that they were getting the upper hand on the H1N1 flu epidemic, and were preparing to reopen businesses and tourist sites closed to prevent contagion.

Officials in Mexico City, where most of the deaths and infections were recorded, said Monday it would reopen restaurants and other eateries on Wednesday.

Churches and museums would be reopened on Thursday, they said. However bars, nightclubs, cinemas and theaters would remain closed until further notice.

AFP